Bob Jenkins, owner of Front Row Motorsports, and Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, pose before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Talladega Superspeedway, Oct. 6, 2024, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge urged NASCAR and two of its teams, including one owned by retired NBA great Michael Jordan, to settle their increasingly acrimonious legal fight that spilled over into tense arguments during a hearing on Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell of the Western District of North Carolina grilled both NASCAR and the teams — 23XI Racing, which is owned by Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports, owned by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins — on what they hoped to accomplish in the antitrust battle that has loomed over the stock car series for months.

“It’s hard to picture a winner if this goes to the mat — or to the flag — in this case,” Bell said. “It scares me to death to think about what all this is costing.”

23XI and Front Row were the only two organizations that refused to sign a take-it-or-leave-it offer from NASCAR last September on a new charter agreement. Charters are NASCAR’s version of a franchise model, with each charter guaranteeing entry to the lucrative Cup Series races and a stable revenue stream; 13 other teams signed the agreements last fall, with some contending they had little choice.

The nearly two-hour hearing was on the teams’ request to toss out NASCAR’s countersuit, which accuses Jordan business manager Curtis Polk of “willfully” violating antitrust laws by orchestrating anticompetitive collective conduct in negotiations. NASCAR said it learned in discovery that Polk in messages among the 15 teams tried to form a “cartel” type operation that would include threats of boycotting races and a refusal to individually negotiate.

One of NASCAR’s attorneys even cited a Benjamin Franklin quote Polk allegedly sent to the 15 organizations that read: “We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

Jeffrey Kessler, an attorney representing the teams, was angered by the revelation in open court, contending it is privileged information only revealed in discovery. Kessler also argued none of NASCAR’s claims in the countersuit prove anything illegal was done by Polk or the Race Team Alliance during the charter negotiation process.

“NASCAR knows it has no defense to the monopolization case so they have come up with this claim about joint negotiations, which they agreed to, never objected to, and now suddenly it’s an antitrust violation,” Kessler said outside court. “It makes absolutely no sense. It’s not going to help them deflect from the monopolizing they have done in this market and the harm they have inflicted.”

He added that “the attacks” on Polk were “false, unfounded and frankly beneath the dignity of my adversary to even make those type of comments, which he should know better about.”

NASCAR attorneys said Polk improperly tried to pressure all 15 teams that comprise the RTA to stand together collectively in negotiations and encouraged boycotting qualifying races for the 2024 Daytona 500. NASCAR, they said, took the threat seriously because the teams had previously boycotted a scheduled meeting with series executives.

“NASCAR knew the next step was they could boycott a race, which was a threat they had to take seriously,” attorney Lawrence Buterman said on behalf of NASCAR.

Kessler said outside court the two teams are open to settlement talks, but noted NASCAR has said it will not renegotiate the charters. NASCAR’s attorneys declined to comment after the hearing.

Bell did not indicate when he’d rule, other than saying he would decide quickly.

Preliminary injunction status

Kessler said he would file an appeal by the end of the week after a three-judge federal appellate panel dismissed a preliminary injunction that required NASCAR to recognize 23XI and Front Row as chartered teams while the court fight is being resolved.

Kessler wants the issue heard by the full appellate court. The injunction has no bearing on the merits of the case, which is scheduled to go to trial in December. The earliest NASCAR can treat the teams as unchartered is one week after the deadline to appeal, provided there is no pending appeal or whenever the appeals process has been exhausted.

There are 36 chartered cars for the 40-car field each week. If 23XI and Front Row are not recognized as chartered, their six cars would have to compete as “open” teams — which means they’d have to qualify on speed each week to make the race and they would receive a fraction of the money guaranteed for chartered teams.

Discovery issues

Some of the arguments Tuesday centered on Jonathan Marshall, the executive director of the RTA. NASCAR has demanded text messages and emails from Marshall and says it has received roughly 100 texts and over 55,000 pages of emails.

NASCAR wants all texts between Marshall and 55 people from 2020 through 2024 that contain specific search terms. Attorneys for the RTA said that covers more than 3,000 texts, some of which are privileged, and some that have been “deleted to save storage or he didn’t need them anymore.”

That issue is set to be heard during a hearing next Tuesday before Bell.

Alex Palou Takes the Lead with a Bold New Look at Road America

In a striking change of appearance, IndyCar Series frontrunner Alex Palou will be showcasing a fresh design this weekend at Road America. The No. 10 Honda driven by Palou will be adorned in the vibrant colors of the team’s latest sponsor, SOLO.

This unexpected twist in livery comes as Palou continues to dominate the points standings, solidifying his position as a force to be reckoned with in the world of IndyCar racing.

The introduction of SOLO as a new backer not only adds a visual spectacle to the track but also hints at the growing support and interest surrounding Palou’s journey to victory.

Stay tuned as Palou takes on the competition with not only his exceptional driving skills but now also with a bold and eye-catching new look that is sure to turn heads at Road America.

Lost By Choice Motorsports brings charitable causes to rally racing

By: Charlie Ihlenfeld

Posted on:
Wednesday, June 18, 2025

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MCARTHUR, Ohio (WOUB) – Main Street McArthur was overflowing with fans, cars and drivers ready from around the world on Saturday for the third day of the Southern Ohio Forest Rally.

One crew got their start in rally racing at the Southeast Ohio event. Lost By Choice Motorsports started coming to the rally three years ago. In their first ever race, they managed to make it onto the podium with an amateur driver and a restrictor plate, a device to limit an engine’s power. The next year, they finished fourth in their class.

Lost By Choice is all about the joy of racing. Gary DeMasi was a longtime rally racer before he became the crew chief for Lost By Choice. Before racing, he was in the Air Force and worked in the automotive industry. When he had a stroke, building and racing rally cars helped him in the rehab process.

As a result of his experiences, DeMasi and his crew are defined by their charitable causes. They work with the Jefferson Health Moss Rehab Institute of Brain Health, Avalon Action Alliance It’s Okay to Not Be Okay and Hope for the Day.

“We try to push that, find as many people as we can reach in order to just make it a better place,” said DeMasi.

DeMasi’s former photographer, Daniel Hayes, now a winning driver for Lost By Choice, echoed this sentiment.

“We’re out here to have fun and support some different missions that we have. I’m big into suicide prevention and talking about and breaking the stigma that goes into mental health,” said Hayes.

Hayes started watching rally racing more than 20 years ago. By 2012, he was working with DeMasi as his photographer. By 2021, he was behind the wheel.

Lost By Choice is unlike other teams in many ways. While the field is dominated by Subarus, Ford Fiestas, and a scattering of Lexus vehicles, the team races a much larger car, a 2006 Ford Mustang.

But like most crews, they draw talent from many places.

Lost By Choice was built out of DeMasi’s old team, V8 Rally Ranger. Team members hail from Pennsylvania, Ohio and Massachusetts. The team takes college students, former military members or people simply excited about rally racing and shows them the rally racing ropes.

“We encourage the passion,” said DeMasi. “Nobody argues and they do what they have to do.”

Southeast Ohio is a great opportunity for Lost By Choice to spread their message.

“If I can bring that to smaller communities and give them some resources that they could look at,” said Hayes, “we’re all better for it.”

The group promotes their causes on the hood of their car before the race. DeMasi hands out information to the crowds as they pass by the car.

Lost By Choice did not place in this year’s Southern Ohio Forest Rally. The title went to Ryan Booth and Lorcan Moore of America and Ireland, respectively. But a chance to spread their message is still a win for the group.

From a road course in Mexico City to the Tricky Triangle in the Poconos.

One week after its trip south of the border, the NASCAR Cup Series is on the move yet again. The world’s best stock car drivers will roll into Pocono Raceway for their annual visit to Pennsylvania.

The one-of-a-kind 2.5-mile track offers a distinct challenge, with three unique corners on the triangle-shaped circuit.

So, what’s in store for Pocono this year? What’s the TV schedule for the weekend? And who could contend for the win on Sunday? Here’s everything you need to know for The Great American Getaway 400:

When is the NASCAR race in Pocono?

The Great American Getaway 400 is set for Sunday, June 22, at 2 p.m. ET.

Before the race, there will be practice and qualifying on Saturday. The 37 drivers will be split into two groups, with each group getting 25 minutes of free practice. For qualifying, each driver will get one lap to set the starting order based on speed.

NASCAR TV schedule this weekend for Pocono

This weekend marks the fifth and final race streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video before TNT takes over.

Adam Alexander (play-by-play), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (analyst) and Steve Letarte (analyst) will be on the call for Prime, with Danielle Trotta, Carl Edwards and Corey LaJoie providing pre- and post-race coverage.

Here’s the full schedule for Pocono:

Saturday, June 21 (Amazon Prime Video)

Sunday, June 22 (Amazon Prime Video)

Who is racing in Pocono? Here’s the entry list

Thirty-seven drivers will race at Pocono — the 36 full-timers, plus one “open” entries.

Brennan Poole, a 34-year-old Xfinity Series regular, will jump up to the Cup Series for his 43rd career start in NASCAR’s top division for NY Racing Team. It will be Poole’s first Cup start since 2023.

Here’s the full entry list for Pocono:

NASCAR picks, predictions, favorites for Pocono

Three organizations have dominated the win column over the first 16 weeks of the 2025 season, and that should continue at Pocono.

Joe Gibbs Racing, with six wins, is primed for another strong weekend. Denny Hamlin, who missed last week due to the birth of his son, has more Pocono wins than any driver ever. Christopher Bell has three straight top-12s at Pocono, while Ty Gibbs was on the pole last year and finished fifth in 2023.

Team Penske, with three wins, should rally around one driver this weekend: Ryan Blaney. The 2023 Cup champion scored his first career win at Pocono eight years ago, and he added another victory last summer. The defending champion Logano was quietly fifth last year, too.

Get to know NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney.

Hendrick Motorsports, with four wins, has four legitimate chances to win at Pocono. Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman are both past winners at the track, and each scored a top-five finish last week in Mexico. Kyle Larson has led at least 15 laps in five Pocono starts, while William Byron has the best average finish among active drivers (9.4 in 11 career starts).

If anyone can challenge the big three, look toward a pair of upstart teams — RFK Racing and 23XI Racing.

Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher have won at Pocono, and they combined to lead 39 laps last year for RFK (20 for Keselowski, 19 for Buescher). For 23XI, Tyler Reddick has four straight Pocono top-10s (including two runner-ups) and Bubba Wallace has four straight Pocono top-11s.

The winning pick for Pocono is Byron, who gets his first win since the Daytona 500 in February and finally visits victory lane in Pennsylvania.

NASCAR past winners, race history for Pocono

Eight of the 37 drivers in the field are past winners at Pocono.

Hamlin holds the track record with seven victories (2006, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2019, 2020, 2023). Behind him, the active drivers with multiple wins include Busch (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021) and Blaney (2017, 2024). The one-time winners at Pocono are Keselowski (2011), Logano (2012), Buescher (2016), Bowman (2021) and Elliott (2022).

NASCAR pit stops are a sport themselves with how much planning goes into a perfect pit stop. Here’s what you need to know about what happens during a pit stop.

JR Motorsports has made a surprise announcement regarding the interim crew chief for Connor Zilisch this weekend at Pocono Raceway.

Zilisch’s usual crew chief, Mardy Lindley, is serving a one-race suspension for loose lug nuts found following the Nashville Xfinity race. He was also fined $10,000, which is the usual penalty for such a violation.

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The No. 88 JRM Chevrolet will have none other than team co-owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. atop the pit box, calling the shots on Saturday.

Earnhardt has worn many hats throughout his NASCAR career between driver, owner and broadcaster, but this is certainly a new one as he takes on the role of crew chief at Pocono. According to Racing Reference, this is the first time any member of the Earnhardt family has worked as a crew chief at any of the three national levels of the sport.

And in case you are one of the few who don’t know Dale Jr.’s background, he is the son of NASCAR legend and seven-time champion of the sport, Dale Earnhardt. In his nearly 20 years as a driver himself, Dale Jr. won 26 races including two Daytona 500s before being elected to the Hall of Fame in 2021. He also has plenty of experience in the Xfinity Series as a two-time NXS champion with 24 career wins.

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Zilisch, an 18-year-old rising star in the sport who is currently under contract with Trackhouse, is already locked into the playoffs after winning at COTA earlier this year.

Read Also:

Joe Gibbs Racing announces new multi-year sponsorship deal

Carson Hocevar fined for making insensitive comments about Mexico

Will NASCAR return to Mexico City in 2026?

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

In 15 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Spire Motorsports has logged three top-20 finishes. Carson Hocevar, driver of the team’s No. 77 Delaware Life Chevrolet ZL1, posted a team-best 17th-place finish in last season’s 400-mile event at the 2.5-mile tri-oval. Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet ZL1s in the Cup Series for Justin Haley, Michael McDowell and Hocevar, respectively.
The Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VisitPA.com will be streamed live on Amazon Prime, Sunday, June 22 beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The 17th of 36 points-paying races on the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series calendar will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Justin Haley – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

Justin Haley will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Dorman Products Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s The Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway.
Dorman Products celebrates their fifth season as Spire Motorsports partner with their first appearance as the primary sponsor on the No. 7 Chevy. The Colmar, Pa.-based company gives professionals, enthusiasts and owners greater freedom to fix motor vehicles. For over 100 years, Dorman has been driving new solutions, releasing tens of thousands of aftermarket replacement products engineered to save time and money and increase convenience and reliability. Founded and headquartered in the United States, Dorman is a pioneering global organization offering an always-evolving catalog of products, covering cars, trucks and specialty vehicles, from chassis to body, from underhood to undercarriage, and from hardware to complex electronics.
The 26-year-old driver has four Cup Series starts under his belt at “The Tricky Triangle,” earning a venue-best 21st-place result in 2022. His average finishing position at the 2.5-mile triangle is 25.8.
In NASCAR Xfinity Series competition, Haley has three Pocono starts, resulting one top-10 finish. He recorded both his best qualifying effort (ninth) and finish (15th) in 2022.
Haley earned one top five and two top 10s in a pair of CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Pocono between 2017 and 2018.
In the ARCA Menards Series, Haley captured the win in the 2017 ModSpace 150 at Pocono after starting second and leading 28 laps. He made two starts in the series at the Long Pond, Pa., venue, earning one top-five and two top-10 finishes.
Last week in Mexico City, Haley was competing for position in the top 10 when he was tagged from behind by a spinning competitor on Lap 7, causing significant damage to the rear end of the No. 7 Chevy. After making adequate repairs to the severely-bent black-and-yellow Gainbridge machine, the team returned to the track one lap behind the leaders. The team received the lucky dog during the Stage Two break to return to the lead lap and nurse the damaged No. 7 home to a 24th-place finish.

Justin Haley Quote
Coming off of Mexico, how do you feel about Dorman aboard your Chevy and thoughts on Pocono?
“I’m excited to have Dorman on our No. 7 Chevrolet. Dorman has been a great partner for Spire and it’s really cool to give them their first chance to be on the car at their home track where I’ve had success in the past. We learned a lot over the past couple of weekends on the No. 7 car and I’m looking forward to a solid weekend in Pocono.”
Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Ryan Sparks

Ryan Sparks has called seven races at Pocono Raceway, earning a pair of event-best 19th-place finishes with Corey LaJoie in 2022 and 2024.
The Winston Salem, N.C., native has called 182 NASCAR Cup Series races where he’s earned three top-five and nine top-10 finishes.

Michael McDowell – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

Michael McDowell will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Gainbridge Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series’ The Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway.
The Glendale, Ariz., native owns 22 starts at “The Tricky Triangle,” earning two top tens and leading 14 laps in NASCAR Cup Series competition. He registered a venue-best sixth-place finish in 2022 after starting 25th.
Last Sunday at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, McDowell qualified fifth and remained within the top 10 for the duration of Stage One and Stage Two. Unfortunately, an untimely caution scrambled the team’s long-run strategy, pinning McDowell in 13th with 32 laps remaining. The road-course ace made several tactical passes on his competitors to drive inside the top 10, eventually cracking the top five with two laps remaining.
With ten races remaining before the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, McDowell sits 18th on the grid, 43 points below the cutline. He entered last week’s Viva Mexico 250 23rd in the playoff picture.
Through the first 16 races of the 2025 campaign, McDowell owns an average starting position of 14.8, including six starts inside the top 10. 
The No. 71 team earned a $100,000 payday and a trip to Victory Lane after winning the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge during last month’s visit to North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway. The crew’s blazing 12.587-second stop topped all entries for both the NASCAR All-Star Open and NASCAR All-Star Race, earning the title of the fastest team on pit road.
McDowell has claimed three Xfinity Fastest Lap awards this season, clocking the fastest lap in the Daytona 500, Phoenix Raceway and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. The No. 71 stands as the only Cup Series team to earn the award three times.
McDowell secured Spire Motorsports’ first Busch Light Pole Award at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. His 28.833-second lap marks the fastest lap in NASCAR’s seventh-generation Cup Series car (2022-present) at the 1.5-mile Nevada oval.

Michael McDowell Quote
Coming off your first top five as a Spire Motorsports driver last week in Mexico, what are your thoughts heading into Pocono?
“I think Pocono is another great opportunity to put together a strong week. It is a unique place, especially over the tunnel turn with how narrow the track gets, but it is a track we have had success at in the past. I hope that we can continue to build off of our top-five run in Mexico and if you look at the next couple of tracks, there are a lot of places where we have had success. Atlanta, Chicago, Sonoma are real opportunities for us to earn some points, shake up the in season tournament, and win races for Spire Motorsports. I am really looking forward to this stretch.”
Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Travis Peterson

Crew chief Travis Peterson heads to Pocono to call his fourth Cup Series event at “The Tricky Triangle.” He earned a venue-best 19th-place result with McDowell in 2023.
As a race engineer at Hendrick Motorsports, the West Bend, Wisc., native helped Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and the No. 88 team to a runner-up finish at Pocono in June 2016.
Peterson has called 92 races in NASCAR’s premier series, securing one win, five top fives, 19 top 10s and seven pole awards.

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

Carson Hocevar, driver of the No. 77 Delaware Life Chevrolet ZL1 for Spire Motorsports, is set to make his second NASCAR Cup Series start at Pocono Raceway in Sunday’s The Great American Getaway 400.
Hocevar started 15th in last year’s event at Pocono and finished 17th in the 160-lap event.
The 22-year-old driver will also return to the No. 7 Delaware Life Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series on Friday. Hocevar owns three prior starts in the series at the Tricky Triangle, with a best finish of fifth in the 2022 race.
Friday’s race will mark the fourth CRAFTSMAN Truck Series event for Hocevar, who took home the win six weeks ago at Kansas Speedway.
Delaware Life is an insurance and annuity company that empowers financial professionals with a wide array of customizable solutions. A subsidiary of Group 1001 Insurance Holdings LLC, Delaware Life focuses on delivering a seamless experience for advisors. The company understands how important it is to find the right fit for every client, every situation and every individual need. Delaware Life is passionate about equipping advisors with annuities that give their customers peace of mind and a successful future, allowing them to plan with confidence for whatever’s next.

Carson Hocevar Quote
How will another double-duty weekend help you at a track as tricky as Pocono?
“Track time is going to be an advantage this weekend. Pocono can be really difficult, you have to be able to get through each corner and they’re all different. The way the car or truck gets through the tunnel turn is going to feel completely different from how it gets through Turn One or Three. Then there’s the long straightaway and the bumps, and all the unique things that can impact a race at Pocono. I think we’ll do well. We’ve been able to find things at each type of track that play in our favor and I feel like we’ll be able to build on all of those things to make the adjustments we need.”
Atop the No. 77 Box – Crew Chief Luke Lambert

Crew chief Luke Lambert will call his 20th Cup Series race from Pocono this Sunday. The crew chief has led drivers to five top-10 finishes at the three-turn, 2.5-mile track, with the most recent of those coming in 2020 with Christ Buescher.
In one NASCAR Xfinity Series start, Lambert led Noah Gragson to victory on the strength of 43-laps led in the 90-lap event.

Spire Motorsports PR